The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-11-11

mt him a moment Then he said:
"Well, partner, are you sickp"
''Oh, no" replied the old man, in
feeble voice; Pm not sick, don't
thinks some tired though; I'm resting"
Horseshoe sat down on an empty up
turned blastiRg-powder can.
Have you seen my boy in this coun-
tryP" suddenly asked the old man.
Cant say that have met him to-
day." replied Horseshoe.
Then you know him. do you?'
cried the old man. as he partly rose.
Cant says I'm so remark bly, init
mate with him; no. don't know your
boy, old man. There are several boys
in the Hills
Yes, that's So said ths old man,
as he sank back and covered his eyes
with his hands; that's what they all
say-so many people"
Whats your name?" continued the
old man, after pause.
my name," returned Horseshoe, as
he met the old mans gaze with an
open, straightforward look. ais Jones. .
you live at Deadwood, s'poseP"
Yes
What's your business thereP''
II have" returned Mr.. Jones with
| ehild-like righteousness, "a large sup
ply-store there.
"Are you prospecting nowP"
Eyes. sir, replied Jones, with an
open frankness that was pleasing to
see, 81 am looking around little. l
have several valuable mines in the
Hills and am hunting for more. 1t
will be impossible, =" continued the can
did Jones, with beautiful desire not
to conceal any thing. ''for me to re-
main away from my extensive business
in Deadwood long enough to discover
more than three or four mines, but /
think they can get along without me
till find that many"
90, indeed" replied the old man,
would you mind handing me a drink
of waterP''
The gentleman with the extensive
business relations at Deadwood COM
piled, and then, at the old mans invi-
tation, found himself something to eat
among the scanty stock of provisions
which the place afforded.
1t did not take Horseshoe long to see
that the old man was very sick. He
fell into a troubled sleep, from which
he did not awake till evening. Horse
shoe had built fire before the door,
which threw strangely-shaped shadows
into the cabin. As he awoke he stared
wildly ut Horseshoe and said:
"Have you seen any thing of Joe?''
who's Joe?'
MY boy-but you said you didn't
know him, didn'tyou?"
Il don't know" replied Horseshoe,
feeling less facetious than in the after
noon. Il might. He's out here, is
hep
Yes, he came out after gold. He's
a good boy, Joe is; it will kill me if 1
don't find him. There, that's all right;
I'll find him. I've most found him
now. The old mans mind was
Neutrality-suspicious. by sickness or
perhaps old age. III find Joe. l
call him my boy because 1 used to.
But he is bigger than l am-he's q
man now. He went away after gold,
and have come after him. I couldn't
live without him. He don't know /
am coming-It'n be a surprise to him.
came up from Sioux City and across
the reservation with big wagon-train,
but they said it was nearer across this
way, so left the trail early one morn
ing with the colt and few things and
came this way, but | guess Tn lost
now. found this house, and after l
get rested Tn going on to find Joe. Is
the colt all right, Mr.. Jones?"
Horseshoe smiled as he thought of
the gray and rheumatic old mare out
side and assured the old man that she
was doing as well as could be expected
for n colt.
ibid you say you thought you knew
my boyP" went on the old man. He's
tall and rather dark, and his hair curls
some. He's little wild, but he'll
steady down after awhile; and he
drinks some and sometime he's little
quarrelsome then. because he's got a
temper, like other folks; but he's a
good boy and win be awful glad to see
his old father"
what did you say his name wasp
asked Horseshoe.
Joe"
but his last nameP'
"Aikens."
The freight and the shadows chased
each other on the wall and left Horse
shoe in one deep shadow, so the old
man could not see him tremble n little
only little. but a good deal for a
man like Horseshoe.
al reckon / Enew-er-know your
boy. Did he have a scar over his left
eyeP"
yes, where he fell on a swing and
Yes, know him. Wait minute
tin l fix the fire. -
And as Horseshoe laid more boughs
on the fire in front Of the calEn, alone
under the pines, he noticed that his
hand trembled and he seemed strange
Iy weak-for him. For he knew now
that it was the old man : boy whom he |
had killed two days before.
When he returned to the cabin he |
felt stronger.
flows he doing; how's he getting |
alongP" eagerly questioned the old |
man.
''He got along-or I mean he's get |
ting along-tirst-rate. He has, con- !
tinued the artless Mr.. Jones, his old |
candor coming back, Frequently |
bought things at my large supply |
store. Your boy is all right" Then !
he sat there in the deep shadow and
talked with the old man about his boy
a long time-the frank and ingenious !
Mr.. Jones. But after he threw him |
self down outside by the fire and looked |